WOOD: Savour fest marks 10 great years

This month marks the 10th anniversary of the deservedly popular Savour Food and Wine Festival.

Dine Around goes on all month at various spots around Nova Scotia and Decadence: Chocolate Wine & Cheese takes place this evening, with the already sold-out Rare & Fine Wine Show following on Fri., Feb. 15, both at Casino Nova Scotia.

Imbibe: A Cocktail Story is also at the Casino on Thurs., Feb. 21.

The hugely successful marquee Savour Food and Wind Festival has expanded so much that this year it will be held at the spacious Cunard Centre. If you have not taken in this splendid event before, I urge you not to miss it.

Jean-Louis Denois Brut Pinot Noir Chardonnay Methode Traditionnelle, France, 12.5 per cent, $26.98 (Premier Wine and Spirits, Dresden Row, Halifax): This traditional bottle-fermented sparkler comes from the Pyrenees foothills region in southwestern France. It spends at least two years on the lees before disgorging. The nose reveals rich biscuit and lemon citrus notes with a hint of berry fruit. Lemon citrus theme comes through strongly in the mouth, together with red berry in the background, crisply balancing acidity, a lick of mineral, creamy vanilla and refreshingly clean lift on the finish. Excellent depth and style in this price range. ★★★

Umani Ronchi Casa di Serra 2011, Verdicchio di Castelli di Jesi DOC Classico Superiore, 13 per cent, $19.29 (NSLC Port of Wines): This is Umani Ronchi’s flagship wine produced from grapes in the best vineyards of the Verdicchio di Castelli di Jesi Appellation. Contact with its own natural yeasts during fermentation and aging adds to its distinctive regional personality. Complex bouquet rolls out lemon drop, peach, ripe yellow pear and a trace of tropical fruit, with succulently ripe green and yellow fruit and unctuously smooth creamy texture in the mouth. Crisp citrus and subtle almond notes round out the long finish. ★★★

BenMarco Malbec 2009, Mendoza, Argentina, 14 per cent, $24.99 (Premier Wine and Spirits): Aging for five months in French oak has produced integrated red fruit, spice and subtle oak aromatics with piquant red currant fruit; a splash of chocolate, firm dry tannins and well-integrated fruit, spice and tannic grip on the palate. A well-structured, approachable wine with some complexity. ★★☆

Finca La Linda Malbec 2011, Mendoza, Argentina, 13.5 per cent, $13.99 (Premier Wine and Spirits): Yet another very good Argentinian Malbec showing warm scents of ripe red berry fruit, a pinch of cinnamon, clove and a dash of vanilla. Lightly sweet berry fruit is smoothly embraced in milk chocolate and spicy roundness on the palate with an agreeable mocha note on the finish. ★★★

Wolf Blass Red Label Unwooded Chardonnay 2012, southeastern Australia, 12.5 per cent, $11.99 — special price: $3 off until end of February (NSLC general list): Offers lively fresh citrus and green apple character with background tropical fruit, lightly creamy texture and a crisp, fresh, fruit finish. Typically well made and easy to drink in the Wolf Blass style. Drink as an aperitif or pair with lighter seafood and white meat dishes. ★★★